-By Edrich Miranda
Electric energy consumers in Vasai have been receiving shocking bills over the past year. The fault lies with defective meters, say’s Mrs Kiran Uday Chandvankar, a Municipal Corporator.Over ten thousand consumers have complained so far says Uday Shetty, a political party activist, who shows the “Afternoon D & C”, a hundred complaints, referred to the company through him. Certain consumers lament, reading of meters is outsourced to contractors and meter readers seldom visit the premises; but merely carry out a bill that s earlier read. In some cases meters are genuinely defective,in any case a defective meter is to be replaced by the company as the meter is just given on hire to the consumer; but is actually the property of The Maharashtra Electric Supply and distribution Company MSEDCO. Officials of the company suggest meters be recalibrated at the cost of the consumer also new meters be installed for which fresh deposits should be paid, when asked what about the deposits already with the company, they have no reply. Officials are rude and lethargic and pass the buck. One consumer has approached the public grievance cell of the Bombay High Court.
